What a pelican
Milner
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What a pelican
I don't think any Liverpool fan was against it at all at the time.. seemed like a great idea..
Every Liverpool fan was made up and in agreement to the idea of the signing.. Much like the Milner Signing..
You even had Gerrard comparing him to Messi!!!!
Turned out to be an absolute disaster as you say..
I can't recall being as pleased with the free signing of Cole as I was with Milner, but Ninja is right, there were some people totally delighted with his signing.
Admittedly, there was probably more than a few dismayed, and quite a few so demoralised they didn't care, but it's not accurate to say NOBODY wanted him.
Admittedly, there was probably more than a few dismayed, and quite a few so demoralised they didn't care, but it's not accurate to say NOBODY wanted him.
Not massively keen. Sounds like so many of our desperate 'just what we need' players who want massive wages, are often injured, and best years are behind them
I don't know really know if I'm that excited. Cole has had (admittedly short) bursts when he's looked a great, great player for Chelsea. And then (usually due to injury) he then struggles to reassert himself in the team.
I hope the reality of Joe Cole at Liverpool is better than the idea.
Hmm, there was a huge Joe Cole thread and it would seem my memory is correct - I wasn't exactly delighted at the idea - see above - but there was DEFFO lots who were happy.
I don't know really know if I'm that excited. Cole has had (admittedly short) bursts when he's looked a great, great player for Chelsea. And then (usually due to injury) he then struggles to reassert himself in the team.
I hope the reality of Joe Cole at Liverpool is better than the idea.
Hmm, there was a huge Joe Cole thread and it would seem my memory is correct - I wasn't exactly delighted at the idea - see above - but there was DEFFO lots who were happy.
Obviously the thread then disintegrates towards the end, as everyone gets angry when I say that Joe Cole is slow.
This is like being in a twitterstorm!
At least I've been proved right about the split between Rodgers signings and committee signings. Nobody would dare question that now.
At least I've been proved right about the split between Rodgers signings and committee signings. Nobody would dare question that now.
Isn't that thread in The Vault, largely because you had the spergiest melt-down ever and generated enough lols to power a small country?
I was joking. But I was also right.
And that thread was Vaulted because the always amusing Barba Oja/ Red Astaire went mental (again) and there was some other loon called Wiberg.
I think your "I was right" actually exists somewhere else in a purer form.
I railed against that gormless cunt coming, to my recollection.
This meme will never get old (and that's OK with me).
Gary Mac and Markus Babbel too.
Joe 'blows out of his arse after 10 minutes' Cole
I'm sure he had a lot of evaluating to do himself.
Yeah, I'm casting my mind back and pretty sure I thought he'd be amazing. He got sent off in his first game, didn't he, then was out injured almost continuously practically straight after that.
It would be interesting to see who people nominate as LFCs best freebie?
Fabio Aurelio.. despite being made of glass is good shout too..
https://www.thisisanfield.com/2019/...ool-free-transfer-signing-from-worst-to-best/
Here we’ve taken a look at the entire transfer history on the incoming side at the club, ranking each of the 21 individuals who Liverpool have taken the plunge on after their contracts ended elsewhere.
There are a few names absent from a list of mere ‘free transfers,’ however, as we’re looking specifically at Bosman deals.
In addition, players who joined the Reds mid-season on frees or who were allowed free moves before their contract ended aren’t listed—including the likes of Maxi Rodriguez, Robbie Fowler, Craig Bellamy and Jari Litmanen.
Those players were allowed a transfer with no fee, but weren’t end-of-contract Bosman deals
21. Phillip Degen
Wow, this was bad. Signed on a free from Dortmund after an injury-plagued season, Degen came in on reasonably big wages and… endured an injury-plagued season.
Broken ribs on his debut, another injury on his next game, a red card soon after… he was a total disaster.
Three years after signing, the Swiss right-back’s contract was cancelled. The worst of the lot.
20. Patrice Luzi
Several players on the list were signed as gambles and achieved little, which is fair.
French ‘keeper Luzi played just once, as sub for injured Jerzy Dudek against Chelsea, and never got another chance. Left on a free, too.
19. Joe Cole
A red card on his league debut, a missed penalty in Europe soon after joining and a succession of injuries all contrived to make Cole one hugely expensive mistake.
He’s not so far down the list because he was awful on the pitch—there were worse at the time, under Roy Hodgson—but because his wages were astronomical and impossible to shift.
A loan spell, intended (and failing) to secure first refusal for Lille’s Eden Hazard, ended up costing the Reds plenty in wages, too. Left on a “free transfer” which also cost Liverpool millions.
18. Milan Jovanovic
Signed by Rafa Benitez before he left, played a bit under Roy Hodgson before he left and barely featured under Kenny Dalglish.
Probably not surprising that he didn’t make much impact at Anfield, even before considering the one-dimensional nature of the left-winger’s game.
17. Adam Bogdan
The bearded Hungarian is only just now departing Liverpool, on a free transfer, after several years of injury and loans.
Only brought in as a back-up by Brendan Rodgers, he featured a few times for Jurgen Klopp but made several mistakes and was quickly demoted.
16. Alex Manninger
Brought in as experienced cover and to assist the younger stoppers at the club by Klopp. Never played a game, therefore higher up than those who cost loads of money or played terribly and cost loads of points
15. Alexander Doni
Briefly an international goalkeeper for Brazil, he joined the Reds from Roma and played a couple of games as backup.
His two most memorable features were negative, though: being sent-off after finally getting his chance and thus missing the FA Cup semi-final—when Pepe Reina was also suspended—and suffering a heart attack which almost cost him his life, resulting in his retirement just after leaving Liverpool.
14. Nabil El-Zhar
A youthful gamble by Rafa Benitez; El-Zhar was exciting to watch at times, but so lightweight and never had any consistency.
Has forged a reasonable career in Spain and, recently, Qatar, but more than 30 appearances for Liverpool was probably a greater tally than his performances warranted.
13. Pegguy Arphexad
Signed on a free and left on a free three years later. In between, the agile Arphexad played six times for Liverpool—and won six trophies.
Sub ‘keeper for Sander Westerveld for most of his spell, he was on the bench for the famous treble in 2001 and was again sub for the League Cup final in 2003.
A games-to-medals ratio which may never be beaten!
12. Bjorn Tore Kvarme
Gets a bit worse press than he probably deserves, Kvarme, as some of his worst performances (which were admittedly atrocious) came in high-profile games, including the Merseyside derby.
Was part of a three-man defence under Roy Evans which was typically shambolic at the best of times, and the Norwegian defender wasn’t usually any less reliable than some of the more established names.
Didn’t last all that long at Liverpool, playing just over 50 games all told.
11. Kevin Stewart
Signed from Spurs on a free, played a few games, did alright as cover in defensive midfield.
Kevin Stewart‘s biggest contribution, however, was earning himself a move to Hull City… for around the same amount of money that the Reds gave the same club for Andy Robertson.
10. Erik Meijer
Cult hero at Anfield, Erik Meijer was our original non-scoring striker.
Great attitude, non-stop running, tremendous work rate and a generally mad approach to the game—it all made him a fan favourite, especially when he was spotted supporting the Reds before the 2001 UEFA Cup final.
Two goals in his single season at the club.
9. Andriy Voronin
If Kvarme gets unfair stick, Voronin even more so.
Yes, admittedly he wasn’t a top player. He didn’t really fit well at Liverpool and the Reds signed him just after his best years, at a time when they were fast-improving as one of the better sides in Europe.
But he played a part in some memorable fixtures, fared well in Champions League games and, like Meijer, was a non-stop runner with a bit more technical ability to his game.
Scored six, including a vital one in a Champions League qualifier, and was a big reason for the Reds’ annihilation of 8-0 Besiktas in the group stage.
8. Steve Staunton
Just a couple of years for Staunton in his second spell at Anfield, but he was decent in his first campaign and backup in his second.
He was a veteran presence in a difficult environment at the club, through those awkward Evans-Houllier joint-manager months.
7. Kolo Toure
A pretty inspired signing by Brendan Rodgers, Kolo brought a measure of experience and calmness—well, some of the time—to a Liverpool defence which desperately needed it.
The fans loved him and he loved being part of the team, and his celebrations after his only goal for the Reds was particularly memorable.
Eventually stayed three years, into the Jurgen Klopp era, featuring in two finals in his last campaign.
6. Markus Babbel
One incredible season, three trophies. Babbel came from Bayern Munich and dominated from right-back, scoring important goals and playing 60 games in the 2000/01 campaign.
Illness struck thereafter and his top-level career was essentially over; it could have been much more, but Babbel made an enormous impact even so.
5. Bolo Zenden (I can't believe his at 5 either)
A Rafa signing in 2005, he took a year as squad player but was then a go-to for Benitez, especially in Europe.
His experience and composure on the ball made him a typical Benitez favourite, with tactical intelligence and good work rate. Played both left-mid and in the centre, including in the Champions League final in Athens.
Two good seasons overall, before leaving on a free.
4. Joel Matip
Certainly wouldn’t have been this high up the list in January; what a difference half a season makes!
Matip has gone from essentially fourth-choice centre-back to the preferred partner for Virgil van Dijk, thanks to injuries and opportunism.
A sensationally consistent performer in 2019, he helped take the Reds to the top of Europe once more with some stand-out displays along the way. Can consider himself first choice for now—all up to the Cameroonian just how far he takes it.
3. Fabio Aurelio
A fan favourite even seven years after his eventual departure, Aurelio was an incredibly cultured left-back who could have achieved a lot more if not for injuries.
Played only 134 games in six seasons because of those absences, including being re-signed after initially departing when Hodgson came to town, but in that time he scored some belters—Chelsea and Man United come to mind.
A classy player, we just didn’t see him often enough.
2. Gary McAllister
The treble season, that Barcelona penalty, the UEFA Cup final. The advice and inspiration provided to Steven Gerrard. The fact he played such a pivotal role despite his advanced age.
That free-kick against Everton!
Gary Mac was every inch the inspired signing, by Gerard Houllier in 2000. Played almost 90 games across two years and was given a massive ovation by fans in his final Liverpool game.
1. James Milner
Far from being an expensive mistake or an over-the-hill signing, James Milner has defied critics time after time to earn a place in Liverpool folklore.
Whether for vital goals scored from the penalty spot, an industrious challenge or two to wrest back control of a game or for tactical flexibility and non-stop running, he has been a key player for Klopp and Liverpool’s vice-captain as they return to the very top of the game.
Maybe not always a guaranteed starter, but still a key in-game option; he has gone from Rodgers’ central midfielder, through a wide outlet to full-back cover and back to midfield—a fix-it for all occasions and Champions League winner with Liverpool.
Over 175 matches into his Reds career and still going, Milner is undoubtedly now the club’s best bit of free transfer business.
Here we’ve taken a look at the entire transfer history on the incoming side at the club, ranking each of the 21 individuals who Liverpool have taken the plunge on after their contracts ended elsewhere.
There are a few names absent from a list of mere ‘free transfers,’ however, as we’re looking specifically at Bosman deals.
In addition, players who joined the Reds mid-season on frees or who were allowed free moves before their contract ended aren’t listed—including the likes of Maxi Rodriguez, Robbie Fowler, Craig Bellamy and Jari Litmanen.
Those players were allowed a transfer with no fee, but weren’t end-of-contract Bosman deals
21. Phillip Degen
Wow, this was bad. Signed on a free from Dortmund after an injury-plagued season, Degen came in on reasonably big wages and… endured an injury-plagued season.
Broken ribs on his debut, another injury on his next game, a red card soon after… he was a total disaster.
Three years after signing, the Swiss right-back’s contract was cancelled. The worst of the lot.
20. Patrice Luzi
Several players on the list were signed as gambles and achieved little, which is fair.
French ‘keeper Luzi played just once, as sub for injured Jerzy Dudek against Chelsea, and never got another chance. Left on a free, too.
19. Joe Cole
A red card on his league debut, a missed penalty in Europe soon after joining and a succession of injuries all contrived to make Cole one hugely expensive mistake.
He’s not so far down the list because he was awful on the pitch—there were worse at the time, under Roy Hodgson—but because his wages were astronomical and impossible to shift.
A loan spell, intended (and failing) to secure first refusal for Lille’s Eden Hazard, ended up costing the Reds plenty in wages, too. Left on a “free transfer” which also cost Liverpool millions.
18. Milan Jovanovic
Signed by Rafa Benitez before he left, played a bit under Roy Hodgson before he left and barely featured under Kenny Dalglish.
Probably not surprising that he didn’t make much impact at Anfield, even before considering the one-dimensional nature of the left-winger’s game.
17. Adam Bogdan
The bearded Hungarian is only just now departing Liverpool, on a free transfer, after several years of injury and loans.
Only brought in as a back-up by Brendan Rodgers, he featured a few times for Jurgen Klopp but made several mistakes and was quickly demoted.
16. Alex Manninger
Brought in as experienced cover and to assist the younger stoppers at the club by Klopp. Never played a game, therefore higher up than those who cost loads of money or played terribly and cost loads of points
15. Alexander Doni
Briefly an international goalkeeper for Brazil, he joined the Reds from Roma and played a couple of games as backup.
His two most memorable features were negative, though: being sent-off after finally getting his chance and thus missing the FA Cup semi-final—when Pepe Reina was also suspended—and suffering a heart attack which almost cost him his life, resulting in his retirement just after leaving Liverpool.
14. Nabil El-Zhar
A youthful gamble by Rafa Benitez; El-Zhar was exciting to watch at times, but so lightweight and never had any consistency.
Has forged a reasonable career in Spain and, recently, Qatar, but more than 30 appearances for Liverpool was probably a greater tally than his performances warranted.
13. Pegguy Arphexad
Signed on a free and left on a free three years later. In between, the agile Arphexad played six times for Liverpool—and won six trophies.
Sub ‘keeper for Sander Westerveld for most of his spell, he was on the bench for the famous treble in 2001 and was again sub for the League Cup final in 2003.
A games-to-medals ratio which may never be beaten!
12. Bjorn Tore Kvarme
Gets a bit worse press than he probably deserves, Kvarme, as some of his worst performances (which were admittedly atrocious) came in high-profile games, including the Merseyside derby.
Was part of a three-man defence under Roy Evans which was typically shambolic at the best of times, and the Norwegian defender wasn’t usually any less reliable than some of the more established names.
Didn’t last all that long at Liverpool, playing just over 50 games all told.
11. Kevin Stewart
Signed from Spurs on a free, played a few games, did alright as cover in defensive midfield.
Kevin Stewart‘s biggest contribution, however, was earning himself a move to Hull City… for around the same amount of money that the Reds gave the same club for Andy Robertson.
10. Erik Meijer
Cult hero at Anfield, Erik Meijer was our original non-scoring striker.
Great attitude, non-stop running, tremendous work rate and a generally mad approach to the game—it all made him a fan favourite, especially when he was spotted supporting the Reds before the 2001 UEFA Cup final.
Two goals in his single season at the club.
9. Andriy Voronin
If Kvarme gets unfair stick, Voronin even more so.
Yes, admittedly he wasn’t a top player. He didn’t really fit well at Liverpool and the Reds signed him just after his best years, at a time when they were fast-improving as one of the better sides in Europe.
But he played a part in some memorable fixtures, fared well in Champions League games and, like Meijer, was a non-stop runner with a bit more technical ability to his game.
Scored six, including a vital one in a Champions League qualifier, and was a big reason for the Reds’ annihilation of 8-0 Besiktas in the group stage.
8. Steve Staunton
Just a couple of years for Staunton in his second spell at Anfield, but he was decent in his first campaign and backup in his second.
He was a veteran presence in a difficult environment at the club, through those awkward Evans-Houllier joint-manager months.
7. Kolo Toure
A pretty inspired signing by Brendan Rodgers, Kolo brought a measure of experience and calmness—well, some of the time—to a Liverpool defence which desperately needed it.
The fans loved him and he loved being part of the team, and his celebrations after his only goal for the Reds was particularly memorable.
Eventually stayed three years, into the Jurgen Klopp era, featuring in two finals in his last campaign.
6. Markus Babbel
One incredible season, three trophies. Babbel came from Bayern Munich and dominated from right-back, scoring important goals and playing 60 games in the 2000/01 campaign.
Illness struck thereafter and his top-level career was essentially over; it could have been much more, but Babbel made an enormous impact even so.
5. Bolo Zenden (I can't believe his at 5 either)
A Rafa signing in 2005, he took a year as squad player but was then a go-to for Benitez, especially in Europe.
His experience and composure on the ball made him a typical Benitez favourite, with tactical intelligence and good work rate. Played both left-mid and in the centre, including in the Champions League final in Athens.
Two good seasons overall, before leaving on a free.
4. Joel Matip
Certainly wouldn’t have been this high up the list in January; what a difference half a season makes!
Matip has gone from essentially fourth-choice centre-back to the preferred partner for Virgil van Dijk, thanks to injuries and opportunism.
A sensationally consistent performer in 2019, he helped take the Reds to the top of Europe once more with some stand-out displays along the way. Can consider himself first choice for now—all up to the Cameroonian just how far he takes it.
3. Fabio Aurelio
A fan favourite even seven years after his eventual departure, Aurelio was an incredibly cultured left-back who could have achieved a lot more if not for injuries.
Played only 134 games in six seasons because of those absences, including being re-signed after initially departing when Hodgson came to town, but in that time he scored some belters—Chelsea and Man United come to mind.
A classy player, we just didn’t see him often enough.
2. Gary McAllister
The treble season, that Barcelona penalty, the UEFA Cup final. The advice and inspiration provided to Steven Gerrard. The fact he played such a pivotal role despite his advanced age.
That free-kick against Everton!
Gary Mac was every inch the inspired signing, by Gerard Houllier in 2000. Played almost 90 games across two years and was given a massive ovation by fans in his final Liverpool game.
1. James Milner
Far from being an expensive mistake or an over-the-hill signing, James Milner has defied critics time after time to earn a place in Liverpool folklore.
Whether for vital goals scored from the penalty spot, an industrious challenge or two to wrest back control of a game or for tactical flexibility and non-stop running, he has been a key player for Klopp and Liverpool’s vice-captain as they return to the very top of the game.
Maybe not always a guaranteed starter, but still a key in-game option; he has gone from Rodgers’ central midfielder, through a wide outlet to full-back cover and back to midfield—a fix-it for all occasions and Champions League winner with Liverpool.
Over 175 matches into his Reds career and still going, Milner is undoubtedly now the club’s best bit of free transfer business.
Kvarme actually looked decent when he first arrived. We were a bit of a graveyard club under Uncle Roy, who signed good players but then went on to ruin them.
Whoever wrote the above has got Kevin Stewart and Paul Stewart mixed up. Paul was the one we signed from Tottenham, whereas Kevin (who came up through the LFC youth ranks) was the one who signed for Hull. Neither was up to much but they were actually different players.
And there's no way that waste of oxygen Voronin deserves the praise he gets above. What "best years"? He was always sh!te even before we signed the tw@t.
Whoever wrote the above has got Kevin Stewart and Paul Stewart mixed up. Paul was the one we signed from Tottenham, whereas Kevin (who came up through the LFC youth ranks) was the one who signed for Hull. Neither was up to much but they were actually different players.
And there's no way that waste of oxygen Voronin deserves the praise he gets above. What "best years"? He was always sh!te even before we signed the tw@t.
I stand corrected. Never knew Kevin S came from Tottenham.
In addition, players who joined the Reds mid-season on frees or who were allowed free moves before their contract ended aren’t listed—including the likes of Maxi Rodriguez, Robbie Fowler, Craig Bellamy and Jari Litmanen.
Hands up over here. I thought it was a daft move, but It was one of those unicorn moments - I was wrong.
Milner is boss
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